This refined Kiyomizu-yaki (清水焼) matcha bowl, crafted in Kyoto, features a graceful ivory glaze with delicate crackle (kan-nyū 貫入) that enhances its subtle elegance. Encircling the bowl is hand-painted calligraphy of a poetic inscription related to “Wa no Michi” (和の道, The Way of Harmony), a central concept in Japanese tea culture and Zen philosophy.
The calligraphy flows freely across the surface, blending art and literature into the vessel. It evokes the idea of “wa” (和) — harmony, peace, and balance — values at the very heart of the tea ceremony. The refined brushwork adds a contemplative quality, making the bowl not only a functional utensil but also a bearer of poetic spirit.
Kyoto’s Kiyomizu-yaki, produced around the famous Kiyomizu Temple area, is renowned for its elegance, fine craftsmanship, and artistic decoration. This piece exemplifies those traditions while carrying the timeless message of harmony in daily life and in tea.
A poetic and philosophical tea bowl that embodies both the spirit of Kyoto ceramics and the essence of the Japanese tea ceremony. Ideal for practitioners, collectors, or those who appreciate ceramics as vessels of thought as well as beauty.
